AT&T Park will make its debut as host site for WBC, hosting semifinal and final games

MLB and the MLBPA, co-owners/operators of the World Baseball Classic, yesterday announced that AT&T Park in S.F. in March will host the semifinal and final games for the '13 tournament. Marlins Park in Miami will play host to second-round WBC games, and Chase Field in Phoenix and Salt River Fields at Talking Stick in nearby Scottsdale, Ariz., will be the American sites for first-round competition. The WBC, entering its third iteration, also finished in California in each of its first two runs. The '06 semifinals and final were held at Petco Park, and the '09 semifinals and final took place at Dodger Stadium (Eric Fisher, SportsBusiness Journal). MLB.com's Mark Newman noted '13 "is San Francisco's debut as a host city" for the WBC. Int'l venues that will host '13 WBC games, pool competitions and game dates "will be announced on the event's Web site in the weeks ahead along with information regarding ticket availability" (MLB.com, 7/25). WBC BOD member Timothy Slavin said, "Miami, Phoenix and San Francisco are three culturally diverse, baseball-loving cities. We're confident each of these communities and venues will provide an unforgettable experience for players and fans from around the world" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 7/26). D'Backs President & CEO Derrick Hall said of the WBC, "Much like the All-Star Game or the playoffs, it allows people to come visit your ballpark for the first time and hopefully they want to return" (MLB.com, 7/25).

In DC, Miranda Spivack reported the Prince George's County (Md.) Council on Tuesday "approved a special measure" that will allow the Redskins to "revamp their parking lot signs to include advertising, something that county businesses generally are not allowed to do." Without "any fanfare, the measure passed unanimously." Redskins Senior VP/Communications Tony Wyllie "agreed it was a near certainty that the team would now be able to name its parking lots for advertisers" at FedExField (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 7/24).

ORANGE YOU GLAD: In Syracuse, Niko Tamurian reported workers yesterday at Syracuse Univ. "could be seen welding where a 21'x66' video [board] will be placed in the west end zone of the Carrier Dome, mirroring one that is already installed above the east end zone." More workers from Daktronics "were installing a new LED board that will display the time and temperature in the northwest corner of the Dome" (CNYCENTRAL.com, 7/25).